Job searching has always required creativity. But when people start turning to dating apps to find work, it’s a sign the market has become especially unforgiving.
I mean, honestly, I don't think I've ever been happier to leave something in the rearview mirror than dating apps and swiping left and right.
In a brutal job market, some job seekers are using dating platforms as informal networking channels. They're looking for conversations, connections, and opportunities they struggle to access through traditional paths. Is it desperation?
Maybe. We're in desperate times. But if we want to call it by its true name, it sounds more like "adaptation."
When we see creativity like this, it’s a huge tell that the system isn’t meeting people where they are or giving them enough ways to be seen, understood, and matched to the right opportunities.
This is an opportunity to reflect for employers.
If qualified candidates feel forced to swipe right just to be seen, what’s broken in our hiring process?